Devoted Church

Genesis 2:15

The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.

Work is for a lifetime.

Genesis 3:19

By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you reWORK

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT WORK

Work is ordained by God.

Genesis 1:28

Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”

turn to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust will return.

Work is not punishment.

Ecclesiastes 2:24-25

So, I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God.

Work calls for obedience.

Colossians 3:22

Let every employee listen well and follow the instructions of their employer, not just when their employers are watching, and not in pretense, but faithful in all things. For we are to live our lives with pure hearts in the constant awe and wonder of our Lord God.

Work should be done with excellence.

Ephesians 6:6-7

Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As servants of Christ, do the will God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

Work is honorable.

1 Corinthians 10:31

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Work provides opportunity for witness.

Matthew 5:16

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

3 REASONS WHY WE WORK

To provide resources.

To provide quality of life.

To serve God.

IF – TURN

2 Chronicles 7:14

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

TURN: A CHANGE OF DIRECTION WHEN MOVING.

4 TYPES OF TURNS:

Turn Away

Luke 15:12

“The younger son told his Father, ‘I want, my share of your estate now before you die.’

Turn Around

Luke 15:17-18

“17 When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father I have sinned against both heaven and you…”

Turn Ahead (Toward)

Luke 15:20

“So he returned home to his father and while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion , he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.”

Turn a Degree

Luke 15:28

“The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him…”

THEN:

God will hear

God will forgive

God will restore

IF – TURN

2 Chronicles 7:14

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

TURN: A CHANGE OF DIRECTION WHEN MOVING.

4 TYPES OF TURNS:

Turn Away

Luke 15:12

“The younger son told his Father, ‘I want, my share of your estate now before you die.’

Turn Around

Luke 15:17-18

“17 When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father I have sinned against both heaven and you…”

Turn Ahead (Toward)

Luke 15:20

“So he returned home to his father and while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion , he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.”

Turn a Degree

Luke 15:28

“The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him…”

THEN:

God will hear

God will forgive

God will restore

If my people will…seek my face…

Key Scriptures: 2 Chronicles 7:14, Psalm 27:4, Matthew 6:33

2 Chronicles 7:14

• Seeking God’s face means to seek his presence

• God wants to guide us day and night with his presence

• God is not hiding, he is waiting for us to acknowledge His presence

1 Samuel 3:1-12

‘Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.’”

So Samuel went back to bed. And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”

And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

Then the LORD said to Samuel, “I am about to do a shocking thing in Israel. 

• Obstacles to seeking God

• Pride and arrogance – The feeling that we can or have to do it alone

• Worry and stress – The side effects of our pride and arrogance

• Time or priorities – Easily slips away when we are trying to manage our worries

Seek God FIRST

Psalm 27:4

Matthew 6:33

Sometimes Jesus gives us what we need, not what we want

• Am I seeking God’s provision or am I seeking to be in His presence?

Ways to seek God

• Praise

• Prayer

• Life Groups

• Study

If my people will…seek my face…

Key Scriptures: 2 Chronicles 7:14, Psalm 27:4, Matthew 6:33

2 Chronicles 7:14

• Seeking God’s face means to seek his presence

• God wants to guide us day and night with his presence

• God is not hiding, he is waiting for us to acknowledge His presence

1 Samuel 3:1-12

‘Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.’”

So Samuel went back to bed. And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”

And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

Then the LORD said to Samuel, “I am about to do a shocking thing in Israel. 

• Obstacles to seeking God

• Pride and arrogance – The feeling that we can or have to do it alone

• Worry and stress – The side effects of our pride and arrogance

• Time or priorities – Easily slips away when we are trying to manage our worries

Seek God FIRST

Psalm 27:4

Matthew 6:33

Sometimes Jesus gives us what we need, not what we want

• Am I seeking God’s provision or am I seeking to be in His presence?

Ways to seek God

• Praise

• Prayer

• Life Groups

• Study

2 Chronicles 7:14

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”

TWO QUESTIONS WE WANT TO ANSWER

What is Prayer?

What happens when we pray?

WHY WE DON’T PRAY?

We make it complicated.

We don’t know what to say.

We thin others pray better than we do.

WHAT DID JESUS SAY ABOUT PRAYER?

Matthew 6:5-8

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private.

Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. When you pray, don’t babble on a...

2 Chronicles 7:14

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”

TWO QUESTIONS WE WANT TO ANSWER

What is Prayer?

What happens when we pray?

WHY WE DON’T PRAY?

We make it complicated.

We don’t know what to say.

We thin others pray better than we do.

WHAT DID JESUS SAY ABOUT PRAYER?

Matthew 6:5-8

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private.

Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. When you pray, don’t babble on a...

Read: 2 Chronicles 7:11-14, 19-22

11 So Solomon finished the Temple of the Lord, as well as the royal palace. He completed everything he had planned to do in the construction of the Temple and the palace. 12 Then one night the Lord appeared to Solomon and said,

“I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. 13 At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you.14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

19 “But if you or your descendants abandon me and disobey the decrees and commands I have given you, and if you serve and worship other gods, 20 then I will uproot the people from this land that I have given them. I will reject this Temple that I have made holy to honor my name. I will make it an object of mockery and ridicule among the nations. 21 And though this Temple is impressive now, all who pass by will be appalled. They will ask, ‘Why did the Lord do such terrible things to this land and to this Temple?’

Vs 11 “He completed everything he had planned”

Vs. 12 “Then the Lord appeared”

Vs. 13 “I have chosen this temple”

Vs. 14 “will humble themselves”

“I will hear from heaven”

Vs. 19 “if you and your descendants abandon me”

Vs. 20 “Then I will uproot the people from this land”

“Object of mockery and ridicule”

Vs.21 “Why did the Lord do such terrible things”

3 ways we can experience humility

1. God humbles you

2. You humble yourself

3. You are humbled or in awe

Read: 2 Chronicles 7:11-14, 19-22

11 So Solomon finished the Temple of the Lord, as well as the royal palace. He completed everything he had planned to do in the construction of the Temple and the palace. 12 Then one night the Lord appeared to Solomon and said,

“I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. 13 At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you.14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

19 “But if you or your descendants abandon me and disobey the decrees and commands I have given you, and if you serve and worship other gods, 20 then I will uproot the people from this land that I have given them. I will reject this Temple that I have made holy to honor my name. I will make it an object of mockery and ridicule among the nations. 21 And though this Temple is impressive now, all who pass by will be appalled. They will ask, ‘Why did the Lord do such terrible things to this land and to this Temple?’

Vs 11 “He completed everything he had planned”

Vs. 12 “Then the Lord appeared”

Vs. 13 “I have chosen this temple”

Vs. 14 “will humble themselves”

“I will hear from heaven”

Vs. 19 “if you and your descendants abandon me”

Vs. 20 “Then I will uproot the people from this land”

“Object of mockery and ridicule”

Vs.21 “Why did the Lord do such terrible things”

3 ways we can experience humility

1. God humbles you

2. You humble yourself

3. You are humbled or in awe

Sometimes God allows our afflictions to happen so they can create opportunity for growth.

The world wants to redefine who we are, but if we stay focused on the big picture we will know the truth about who we are in God’s eyes.

The world will try to give you something to take your attention away from God.

When we do the right thing, the world will try harder to convince us that we are wrong.

All of the afflictions that God has allowed to be a part of your life are a part of His big picture.

When we choose to worship God and stand up to the world the devil will turn up the heat.

Many times we give up before we ever even make it to the furnace.

God can and will deliver us, but we have to be willing to fall into the furnace